The story of Office for the iPad has been something of a rollercoaster. Depending on who you've talked to this year, the mobile app has been on, then off, then on again... if it was ever real to start with. Imagine our surprise, then, when IHNED says Microsoft Czech Republic product manager Petr Bobek "confirmed" native Android and iOS ports of Office 2013 during a press conference. The Office division higher-up reportedly outlined a strategy where the productivity suite would reach Windows for large businesses and individuals in December and February respectively, but would reach "other platforms" later on through more than just mobile-optimized web versions. It sounds promising, but we have reason for skepticism -- assuming the testimony is accurate, there's still a history of employees at Microsoft and other companies overstepping their boundaries without direct guidance from the corporate mothership. We reached out to Microsoft ourselves, and a spokesperson gave us a relatively conservative answer. While the company reiterated statements that "Office Mobile will work across Windows Phones, Android phones and iOS," it added that there was "nothing additional to announce" regarding Office's retail availability. As much of a glimmer of hope that might represent for some Android and iOS fans, it doesn't equate to a direct Office 2013 port with a release schedule.

Update: To underscore its point, Microsoft has issued a further statement that casts doubt on the very remarks in question. "The information shared by our Czech Republic subsidiary is not accurate," a spokesperson told us. "We have nothing further to share."

Disappointed that your country or favorite carrier missed the initial cut for the iPhone 5 launch? Odds are that you're all good now. Worldwide, 22 more countries have joined the mix as of today, including wide swaths of Europe as well as New Zealand; you'll find the full list in the release here. Americans also don't have to turn to the big carriers, as they can now opt for prepaid carrier Cricket in addition to a slew of extra providers that include C Spire as well as regionals like GCI and nTelos. In some cases, you'll even snag a discount by going with one of the smaller networks. If you bagged an iPhone in Barcelona, or caught one on Cellcom, let others know how it's going in the comments.

Early last year, Twitter kicked off its Translation Center efforts in hopes of bringing support for more languages to the site with help of amicable volunteers from all over the globe. Naturally, this has helped the renowned Blue Bird network immensely during its global gibberish quest, having added compatibility with right-to-left idioms since the program started and, more recently, Ukranian and Catalan. To make things even better, today Twitter's announced it's now available in a few more, including Basque, Czech and Greek -- which means that a simple trip to account settings can now translate your current 140-character experience into one of the aforementioned languages if you so choose. Twitter's Translation Center is open to anyone willing to lend a hand, so those interested in helping the cause can pay the more coverage link a visit to learn how to get involved.

The advent of movie support in iTunes for the Cloud was a boon to Apple TV owners as well as any iTunes user with a tendency to hop between devices -- within the US, that is. Apple today swung the doors open and let Australia, Canada, the UK as well as 32 other countries and regions around the world get access to their movies whenever they're signed in through iTunes or an iOS device. Not every studio is on the same page, as many American viewers will know all too well: it's more likely that you'll get re-download rights for a major studio title such as Lockout than an indie production, for example. Even with that limit in mind, there's no doubt more than a few movie mavens glad to avoid shuffling and re-syncing that copy of Scott Pilgrim to watch it through to the end.

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Thu, 19 Jul 2012 16:02:00 -040021|20281949http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/new-ipad-arrives-in-austria-ireland-mexico-and-many-more/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/new-ipad-arrives-in-austria-ireland-mexico-and-many-more/http://www.engadget.com/2012/03/23/new-ipad-arrives-in-austria-ireland-mexico-and-many-more/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsIf your homeland wasn't part of the initial iPad roll out we've got good news -- today is the day for iOS tabletry. Maybe. The latest slab of Retina display-equipped machinery out of Cupertino is landing in 25 additional countries today, including Liechtenstein and Luxembourg. So, if you haven't been waiting on line since the 16th in anticipation of this day, then go to your local Apple store to score one. Or don't. For the full list of countries check the PR after the break.

If you're not really into using your Kinect experiment to launch your new startup or give your next presentation, let us offer another entertaining option. Two students at the University of West Bohemia in Pilsen have created an interactive sandbox using Kinect, a projector, a computer and, of course, a box chock full of sand. The Xbox motion / depth detector is installed about two feet above the sand pit to measure each area that is carved out. Using a unique detection program, the topographical information is then transmitted to a data projector that renders an image in the sandpit -- the image being a color based on the height or depth of what has been created. The devs have built out a few different projections. Hills that are constructed by the user are assigned a shade of green based on height, while troughs are given blue hues according to depth. What's that? You built a hill and dug out the center? The projector sees that as a volcano, complete with spewing lava. If you're tired of SimCity and want to actually get your hands dirty, take a peak at the video just past the break.

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Wed, 30 Nov 2011 01:05:00 -050021|20117227http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/worlds-largest-indoor-photograph-shows-off-fancy-old-czech-libr/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/worlds-largest-indoor-photograph-shows-off-fancy-old-czech-libr/http://www.engadget.com/2011/03/31/worlds-largest-indoor-photograph-shows-off-fancy-old-czech-libr/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
If you think Google's seven-gigapixel renderings of world famous art museums are impressive, get a load of this: a guy named Jeffrey Martin just produced a record breaking panoramic photo of a reading room in Prague's Strahov monastery library, and it's got the internet giant's Art Project beat by more than 30,000 megapixels. Not that Google's pictures are anything to scoff at, but the 40-gigapixel, 360 degree, 283GB image is something of a digital masterwork. According to Wired, the photograph, taken in February on a GigaPanBot-mounted Canon 550D, is comprised of 2,947 unique images that took a computer program more than four days to stitch together. If you're a fan of 18th century European literature, Franz Anton Maulbertsch's trompe l'oeil paintings, or just ridiculously detailed digital photography, you can peep the image in its entirety at the source link.

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Thu, 31 Mar 2011 09:34:00 -040021|19897689http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/01/lenovo-launches-amd-packing-ideapad-u165-ultraportable-in-czech/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/01/lenovo-launches-amd-packing-ideapad-u165-ultraportable-in-czech/http://www.engadget.com/2010/09/01/lenovo-launches-amd-packing-ideapad-u165-ultraportable-in-czech/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
We weren't particularly impressed with the IdeaPad U160 when we recently reviewed it, giving it a score of five out of 10 thanks to disappointing battery life and a high price. Lenovo, it seems, looking to bridge that gap to a perfect score has announced the U165, which is apparently five more. It ditches the U160's Intel internals, going for AMD Athlon II processors and ATI Radeon HD 4225 graphics. Other specs remain similar, including the 11.6-inch, 1366 x 768 display, up to 4GB of DDR3 memory, 802.11n WiFi, and Bluetooth. The U165 is shipping now, but curiously it appears to be only available in the Czech Republic, where it's selling for 9990 CZK -- about $520. Compared to the $1,149 U160 that seems like a smoking deal to us.

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Wed, 01 Sep 2010 10:02:00 -040021|19616523http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mivvy-wants-you-to-enjoy-mobile-life-use-two-sim-cards/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mivvy-wants-you-to-enjoy-mobile-life-use-two-sim-cards/http://www.engadget.com/2009/05/24/mivvy-wants-you-to-enjoy-mobile-life-use-two-sim-cards/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
We'll be honest: we hadn't heard of Czech firm Mivvy before mobile-review's expose on the company's new models. We suspect most members of its European target audience haven't either -- but one thing they may be able to identify with is the Dual Touch TV's design (pictured), which combines the HTC Touch Diamond's unique prismatic battery cover with Motorola iconography (notice the "A" and "B" buttons), a genuinely puzzling numeric / nav pad layout, and words of encouragement that we should "enjoy mobile life" along the side and back. The other two new units in the company's lineup -- the Dual Nio and Dual Slider -- are more forgettable, but all three offer dual SIM support and GPRS-only data. In the case of the Dual Touch TV you've also got an analog TV tuner, which will slowly cease to do anyone any good as analog television goes dark around the world. Not the most stellar specs in the world -- but the most expensive of the three runs just $215 fully unlocked, so at least you're getting what you pay for and paying for what you get.

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Sun, 24 May 2009 07:33:00 -040021|1554891http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/t-mobile-bringing-mda-compact-v-vario-v-to-europe-in-june/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/t-mobile-bringing-mda-compact-v-vario-v-to-europe-in-june/http://www.engadget.com/2009/02/26/t-mobile-bringing-mda-compact-v-vario-v-to-europe-in-june/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
We're thinking that HTC's Touch Diamond2 and Pro2 will be available all over the place by the time 2009 draws to a close, but if you want to be one of the first kids on the block to get in on that action, T-Mobile's European outposts are a good place to start looking. The carrier announced at MWC last week that Austria, the Czech Republic, Germany, the Netherlands, and the UK will all bet getting a version of the Diamond2 -- the MDA Compact V -- "by" June, while the Pro2 variant -- the MDA Vario V -- will launch more definitively "in" June. As usual, T-Mobile has chosen to customize its models a bit versus the standard fare that HTC is offering; opinions on the new look will vary, but if they're the first to launch, we think we can overlook some design niggles.

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Thu, 26 Feb 2009 04:24:00 -050021|1472105http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/t-mobile-schedules-the-g1s-european-tour/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/t-mobile-schedules-the-g1s-european-tour/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/t-mobile-schedules-the-g1s-european-tour/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
So far the G1 has only been available in the US and UK, but it looks like T-Mo's about to take Android international -- we're told the HTC-made handset will hit the Netherlands, Austria, and the Czech Republic on January 30, Germany on February 2, and Poland a bit later. No detailed pricing information, but it's confirmed that Germans will be able to score a G1 for just €1 ($1.33) with a two-year contract. Hopefully we'll see that pricing make its way Stateside soon -- although the G1 is currently doing quite well at $179, $1 sounds even better.

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Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:54:00 -050021|1434021http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/t-mobile-schedules-the-g1s-european-tour/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/t-mobile-schedules-the-g1s-european-tour/http://www.engadget.com/2009/01/19/t-mobile-schedules-the-g1s-european-tour/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
So far the G1 has only been available in the US and UK, but it looks like T-Mo's about to take Android international -- we're told the HTC-made handset will hit the Netherlands, Austria, and the Czech Republic on January 30, Germany on February 2, and Poland a bit later. No detailed pricing information, but it's confirmed that Germans will be able to score a G1 for just €1 ($1.33) with a two-year contract. Hopefully we'll see that pricing make its way Stateside soon -- although the G1 is currently doing quite well at $179, $1 sounds even better.

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Mon, 19 Jan 2009 14:54:00 -050021|1434020http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/15/czech-republic-and-slovakia-hot-for-prepaid-satellite-service/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/15/czech-republic-and-slovakia-hot-for-prepaid-satellite-service/http://www.engadget.com/2008/12/15/czech-republic-and-slovakia-hot-for-prepaid-satellite-service/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsNow, here's a concept: prepaid DTH satellite service. In fact, it's a reality in Czech Republic and Slovakia, and evidently locals are all about it. Reportedly, there is a grand total of over half a million active card customers between the two nations, making it the "leading satellite platform in the Czech Republic and second largest in Slovakia." Tough to say if this prepaid gig would even work elsewhere, but you can certainly color us (read: the "sick of contracts" crowd) intrigued.

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Mon, 15 Dec 2008 11:19:00 -050021|1396967http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/26/czech-republic-says-hd-channels-shouldnt-be-delivered-ota-for-f/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/26/czech-republic-says-hd-channels-shouldnt-be-delivered-ota-for-f/http://www.engadget.com/2008/11/26/czech-republic-says-hd-channels-shouldnt-be-delivered-ota-for-f/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsWait, what? In a section of the globe that needs to make every possible effort to up the adoption rate of high-def, we've got this winner trying to hold it down. Zdenek Duspiva, the head of the body overseeing the country's transition to digital broadcasting, has reportedly stated that HD channels should not be beamed out gratis to DTT viewers while speaking at the Teleinformatika conference in Prague. We can't imagine why he would possibly think that restricting the public's access to a better quality format would be beneficial for its technological progress at large, but we're sure glad he's not clocking into the FCC everyday.

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Wed, 26 Nov 2008 13:54:00 -050021|1383927http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/16/nokias-s40-based-7100s-gets-outed/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/16/nokias-s40-based-7100s-gets-outed/http://www.engadget.com/2008/10/16/nokias-s40-based-7100s-gets-outed/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
Hard to say if we North Americans will ever see this one (without the kind assistance of an importer), but Nokia's slip-slidin' 7100s has surfaced overseas. The S40-based handset will reportedly boast a QVGA display, 1.3-megapixel camera, built-in FM radio, multimedia player and a microSD card slot. Additionally, you'll find a complete dearth of 3G support, tri-band GSM connectivity, Bluetooth 2.0, Opera Mini pre-loaded and a microUSB connector. Look for it to ship somewhere in Europe sometime before the next decade for around 5,000 crowns ($277).

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Thu, 16 Oct 2008 09:43:00 -040021|1343522http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/13/cs-link-to-add-hd-programming-in-czech-republic-next-year/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/13/cs-link-to-add-hd-programming-in-czech-republic-next-year/http://www.engadget.com/2008/08/13/cs-link-to-add-hd-programming-in-czech-republic-next-year/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23commentsHeads-up, Czech Republic. Your nation could be seeing high-def programming as early as next year. At least, that's the word from Media Vision head Martin Janku. In a recent interview with Parabola, the bigwig noted that negotiations to get HD services up and running on CS Link were ongoing, and that current estimates pegged the initial launch sometime in 2009. Furthermore, he also suggested that an internet-delivered channel was in the works, and there's also a push to increase the number of (SD, presumably) channels overall. We like the sound of that.

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Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:28:00 -040021|1280946http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/01/the-benq-siemens-black-box-concept-phone-that-never-was/%3Futm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%26ncid%3Drss_semi
http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/01/the-benq-siemens-black-box-concept-phone-that-never-was/http://www.engadget.com/2006/10/01/the-benq-siemens-black-box-concept-phone-that-never-was/%3Futm_source%3DFeed_Classic%26utm_medium%3Dfeed%26utm_campaign%3DEngadget%23comments
You know, it's too bad that BenQ-Siemens' European operations had to go under before it managed to get this slick handset out the door. From what we can make out based on these photos spotted on a Czech website, BenQ-Siemens had developed a "Black Box concept phone," which took home some Chinese design award earlier this year. The idea apparently is to turn the phone into one large screen, and change function depending on whatever application you need at the time: a calculator, an FM radio, the phone itself (duh), and something that looks like a game involving a goldfish and possibly a bathtub drain (we're not really sure). You know, this reminds us a lot of that possible iPhonepatent we spotted earlier this month -- hopefully Apple can pick up where BenQ-Siemens left off?